New: Hybrid skins @ Adam n Eve

January 8th, 2007 at 11:52pm Ryan Darragh

I know what you’re thinking, but no, a hybrid skin isn’t a skin that gets great mileage through a high-tech combination of gasoline engine and electric battery power.  You don’t get to use the car-pool lane, either.  No, a hybrid skin reflects the design technique of using both photo-sourced elements (photos of actual skin or body details) and hand-painted art to blend it all together.  Many feel that a hybrid skin is the best of both worlds.  Designer sachi Vixen of Adam n Eve has just released her new line of hybrid skins for men, and the results are definitely worth checking out!

Joshua has slightly rounded pecs and good but not over-developed abs definintion–he’s been working out and is very happy with the results.  Chances are you will be too.

I didn’t press sachi for details on her design process–one should never ask a magician how the magic is done, and a good magician will never tell anyway–so I can’t tell you if her skins are half photo-sourced and half hand-painted, or what the proportion might be.  What really matters is the result!

I mentioned in a previous review of another skin of sachi’s how much I like the detailing she does for the back–the curve of the spine looks as though you could actually touch it.  In addition to the other work she’s done on these skins, sachi told me she has gone back and completely redone the feet from her earlier skins.  I wish I had gotten a better picture to share, but in this one you can get some idea of the detail on the bottom of the feet.  They are some of the best-looking feet I’ve seen in SL. 

Matthew is more or less a brother to Joshua, but with a slightly different look and hairy torso.  I don’t usually go for the body hair for myself, but I wanted to showcase this skin here as it’s so very well done.  The hair coverage is even but not dense, and looks very realistic.

You will notice that these skins feature different faces, facial hair, skin tones, and muscle shading.  Each model is a unique creation and will give you a different look.  I suspect that Matthew and Joshua would look even better on avatars that are more “built” than mine.  I have not modified my avatar shape for this review, so bear that in mind.

Dante is all smooth, with no body hair and toned but not ripped abs.  I usually wear bald skins and provide my own prim hair, but this will give you an idea of what the available hair option looks like.

I like the muscle shading on this skin a lot–it seems very natural to me, and not at all overdone or stylized.  The variety across sachi’s line of skins gives you a lot of choices.  That may seem intimidating at first, especially when you’re standing in the shop and trying to take it all in, but if you’re willing to put in a little time and try on several demos, you should be able to find one that gives you just the look you want.

Of the new line, Daniel is probably the best suited to slighter, less “built” avatars like mine, and probably closest to my own personal taste.

Redhead and blond versions are available (check out the eyebrows), so you have a choice.  The muscle shading makes Daniel seem ever so slightly softer, with less hard muscle but still in good shape.  Daniel is probably your best bet if the look you’re going for is “cute.”

The new hybrid line also includes Hiro and Soloman, which sachi created especially for men who are looking for Asian and black skin possibilities.  Hiro comes in four skin tones and, according to sachi, has specially developed eye shaping that helps to give the feeling of an Asian appearance even on a shape that is not specifically designed with that in mind.

Soloman also comes in four skin tones, with careful highlighting that enhances the features for a realistic appearance over authentic skin tones.

I think that Adam n Eve may well have the largest selection of skins for men in SL, with versions for a wide variety of body types in a great range of color tones.  If you haven’t been by Adam n Eve lately, you should drop by, even if only to check out the amazing selection.

These new hybrid skins for men are available at Adam n Eve (Genesis 192, 150, 35) as single skins with one hair option for L$1250. The one exception is Dante, which comes in a two-pack, one bald and one with hair, for L$1500.  Demo skins are available for L$1 each, so you can try on one (or several) demo skins before making your purchase decision.

Disclosure: Seen in World: Yes | Review Copy: Yes | Friends List: No

Notes: On Ryan: Hair, "Mess It Up" by Lost Thereian (Naughty Designs). Retro Hawaiian Swimming Shorts by Barnesworth Anubis (Barnes Boutique).

Entry Filed under: Adam n Eve, New Items, Skins